Bolster and axle assembly for children&#39;s wagons



Dec. 23, 1924 1,520,650

F. HORNOUIST BOLSTER AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR CHILDRENS WAGONS Filed July 2, 1923 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 /f w L. .14

F. HORNQUIST BOLSTFER -AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR CHILDREN'S WAGONS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1923 /9 2/ jaw.

army/a Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED anna FAR? OFFICE.

BOLSTER AND AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR OHILDR-ENS "WAGONS.

Application filed July 2, 1923. fierial No. 649,117.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK HoRN UIs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Jewett, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolster and Axle Assemblies for Childrens Wagons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in childrens wagons, such as coaster wagons, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive, yet a. strong and durable bolster and aXle assembly which does not require the use of a great number of bolts and does not necessitate that openings be formed through either of the axles.

Another object is to provide a brace for the front hounds, held in engagement therewith by the pivot which connects the tongue with the hounds.

lVith the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a wagon embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the rear construction.

Figure 4; is a fragmentary disassembled perspective view of certain parts disclosed in Fig. 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sectional views of the front construction, as indicated by lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail vertical sectional views as indicated by lines 77 and 88 of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain parts illustrated more particularly in Figs. 6 to 9.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view show ing a different form of construction includ--' ing a cushioning spring,

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a body of a childs coaster wagon supported by a front axle 2, a rear axle 3, wheels 4, and front and rear bolster structures of novel form.

The rear bolster, shown most clearly in Figs 2, and d, includes an arched metal bar 5 having its crown secured by a bolt 6 to the body 1, the free ends 7 of the bar being disposed vertically. Each of these ends is formed with a circular opening 8 and with. a vertically elongated slot 9 opening into the upper side of said opening. transverse tie-bar 10 extends between the ends 7 and is provided in its upper edge with vertically elongated notches 11 which receive the portions of the bar 5 at the upper ends of the slots 9, the portions of said tiebar 10, under the notches 11, being snugly received in the slots 9, so that said tie-bar is interlocked with the ends of the a ched bar 5.

A pair of substantially U-shaped struts 12 are secured by bolts or other suitable fasteners 13 to the body 1 and have slots 14 formed in their lower portions, through which the vertical ends 7 of the bar 5 pass, below the tie-bar 10. The slotted portions of the struts 12 contact with the lower edge of the bar 10 and the lower surfaces of said slotted portion coincide with the walls of the openings 8, so that when the rear axle 3 is slipped through said openings, the bar ends 7, the ends of the tie-bar l0, and the struts 12, will be held in interlocked relation without the use of fastening means other than the construction disclosed.

The front axle and bolster assembly is detailed more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5 to 10. This structure includes an arched bar 5 having vertically elongated openings 8 in its downturned ends 7 and also having vertical slots 9 which open into said openings 8. A. horizontally disposed tiebar 10 is provided to prevent spreading of the ends of the bar 5 and opposite edges of said bar 1O are notched attheir ends as indicated at 11 to interlock with the upper portions of the metal at opposite sides of the openings 8*. The slots 9 permit the ends of the tie-bar 10 to be inserted through the openings 8, after which said bar 10 7 tween the two plates.

shaped connecting portion 23 may be turned to dispose it in a horizontal plane instead of a vertical plane, as was the case with the bar 10. The axle 2 is passed. through the openings 8 and contacts with the lower side of the tie-bar 10 to hold the latter interlocked with the ends of the bar 5. v

The center of the tie-bar 1b is upwardly offset as indicated at and a suitable strut frame 16 rests upon said offset portion, the upper end of said frame 16 being secured by bolts 17 to the crown of the bar 5 and to the lower plate 18 of a ball bearing whose upper plate 19 contacts with the body 1, balls 20 being disposed in suitable races bea vertical king bolt 21 passes through the floor of the body 1, through the plates 18 and 19, through the lower end of the frame 16, and through the upwardly offset center 15 of the tie-bar 1O and thus pivotally connects the front structure with the body, as well as securing the lower end of the frame 16 to the tie-bar.

A pair of hounds 22 converge forwardly from the ends of the axle 2 and have their front ends integrally connected by a U- I which is straddled by the fork 24 on the rear end of the tongue 25, said fork being pivoted to the connecting portion 23 by a belt or other suitable pivot 26. An inclined brace 27 is provided to hold the hounds 22 against vertical movement, the rear end of this brace having an opening through which the king bolt 21 passes, while the front end of said brace is bent to form a hook 28 which snugly receives the front end of the connecting portion 23. To hold this hook and connecting portion in engagement with each other, the pivot 26 passes across the front end of the brace 2'? as disclosed clearly in Fig. 2.

In the prefe "red form of construction, the frame 16 is formed by bending a single piece of strap iron, the terminals of this strap being disposed in abutting relation with opposite edges of the arm 27, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6.

Figures 11 and 12 disclose a construction which may be used if springs are desired onthe wagon. In these figures, 5 designates an arched bar having downturned ends 7 which are provided with vertical slots 8 having parallel side walls. A tiebar 10 extends between the ends 7 and is notched at 11 to interlock with the portions of said ends at the upper ends of the slots 8 said tie-bar being held in this position by substantially rectangular coiled springs 30 which surround the ends 7* between said bar 10 and the axle 2 the ends of the axle being received in the slots 8, so that they may yield upwardly against the springs 30. By employing the construction shown and described, or a substantial equivalent thereof, a childs wagon is provided which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured and will be exceptionally strong and durable. Most parts of the front and rear constructions, may be stamped from ordinary strap iron or steel and easily bent to shape, which has numerous manufacturing advantages.

Excellent results are obtainable from the details disclosed and they may therefore be considered as representing the preferred form of my invention, but it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, numerous changes may be made.

Iclaim: 1. A. wagon bolster comprising an arched metal bar, an axle engaged with the ends of said arched bar, and a tie-bar extending between the ends of said arched bar and held in engagement therewith by said axle.

2. A wagon bolster comprising an arched metal bar having openings in its ends, atie bar having its ends passed through said openings and interlocked with the ends of said arched bar, and an axle passing through said openings and retaining said tie bar interlocked with the ends of said arched bar.

8. A wagon bolster comprising an arched metal bar having openings in its ends, a tie-bar having its ends received in said open ings and provided with transverse notches snugly receiving portions of the first named bar ends contiguous to said openings, and an axle passing through said openings and holding said tie-bar in engagement with said first named bar ends.

4:. A rear structure for childrens wagons coin 'irising an arched bolster having downwardly extending ends formed with openings and vertical slots opening into the upper edges thereof, a tie-bar having its ends ins rted through said slots and formed with notches receiving the portions of the bolster at the upper ends of said slots, a pair of U-shaped struts for the ends of said bolster having slots through which the ends of. said bolster extend below the tie-bar. and an axle passed through said openings and confining said struts between itself and said tie-bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

. FRANK HORNQUIST. 

